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Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Bits & Bites

Restoration Hardware has installed a branding
message in front of its upcoming nearly 60,000 square foot, five story Buckhead store on Peachtree Road. (The giant store is being built on the parcel formerly home to ESPN Zone) The Buckhead store will apparently be known as
"Restoration Hardware at the Estate in Buckhead." (The branding
previously displayed Restoration Hardware at the
Estate at Buckhead, but has since been changed.) A quote by Pablo
Picasso was added, too, "Every act of creation is first of all an act of
destruction." --- See what destruction hath wrought Fall 2014.

A 4000 square foot space at Akers Mill has been leased to a mattress retailer. The space, adjacent to Hooters, has been vacant for many months and offers great street visibility.

Sandpoint, Idaho-based Coldwater Creek is closing all of its stores following a recent bankruptcy filng. The women's clothing retailer operates 365 stores nationwide, among them twelve stores around metro Atlanta including locations at the Avenues East and West Cobb, The Forum in Norcross and Mall of Georgia in Buford. (A former Coldwater Creek store on the upper level of Phipps Plaza currently operates as a rug store.) The chain will reportedly begin going-out-of-business sales in early May, ahead of the traditionally busy Mother's Day weekend. The first Atlanta area location of College Station,Texas-based Grub Burger Bar opened yesterday on Cobb Parkway at Akers Mill. The "better burger" concept is unique in that they make their own buns, every sixty minutes or so, throughout the day. Grub also features a number of shakes and assorted fries. A full bar is also available. Sources say the growing chain is looking to open at least three stores in the metro Atlanta market.

Swim 'n Sport has closed its location at Lenox Square. The second level location, next to the upcoming Athleta, closed Monday. A similar swimwear store, Everything But Water, remains open on the first floor of Phipps Plaza.

Built in 1969, Buckhead's Phipps Plaza is getting a few updates and upgrades. Plans call for: "upgraded LED lighting, repainting the interior, new warm wood accents, an updated railing system, luxury soft seating and lounging areas with Wi-Fi connectivity and chargers, upgraded restrooms, and the installation of a hotel-like concierge service center." Phipps Plaza will also reportedly add a "mixed use"
component to its property. While not connected to the mall, 320 luxury
residential units, a 164 room hotel and an unnamed "luxury storefront" will reportedly be built on existing mall property. Although the planned hotel was not named in a press release by the mall, sources indicate the hotel is likely to be AC Hotel by Marriott. I wrote about the planned hotel last month but at the time was unaware of a residential component at Phipps, only at Lenox Square.

Boneheads Grilled Fish & Piri Piri Chicken has opened its "flagship" Buckhead location on Pharr Road on the street level of the Eclipse condominiums. Boneheads made a rather swift transition as the space closed as Aqua Bistro in late January.

Newk's Eatery will reportedly open their new location at The Village at Druid Hills next Monday, the 21st. This intown location will be the chain's fifth in Georgia.

F&H Food Trading Group will open a new location of Salt Factory Pub in Woodstock late this summer. The new Salt Factory Pub will open at 8690 Main Street in the heart of Woodstock's historic business district. The restaurant's space was previously an auto parts company, and most recently was home to a crossfit gym. F&H already operate two Salt Factory locations, one in Roswell, the other in Alpharetta. The group also plans to open their latest concept, Real Fix Pizza, early this summer in Roswell, close to its existing restaurants.

In other F&H news, the group quietly rebranded their existing Canton Street eatery OPULENT, 1920 Tavern. The change was reportedly due to neighborhood input and the general sense that the OPULENT branding deterred some diners from dining, assuming the concept was higher end than it actually was. (OPULENT itself was a replacement for another F&H concept, INC Street Food.) In conjunction with the name change which reportedly took place "a few weeks ago," 1920 also features more sandwiches than its predecessor. The name "1920" is reportedly derived from the 1920s era decor and photographs that are found throughout the restaurant.

I live across the street from the new Boneheads and headed there for a quick dinner the other evening. It was a normal experience until I went to the restroom. Going down the hall, I find a hidden lounge replete with a full bar and bartenders, softer lighting, candelight and soft jazz. It was very odd, but interesting.

@Drake - no joke. I run by there several times a week and am shocked at how fast they have moved. I think the CF location would've been better, at least from aesthetics and parking where the True Food is going, which looks nice so far.

and as usual, traffic inside the front of the mall is going to be a DISASTER when CF opens. What a nightmare it will be.